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23/07/03 14:51:33

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Subject: Re: Bilge Keel Author: nick [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 7/12/05 23:19:52 In reply to: brian henry 's message, "Re: Bilge Keel" on 7/12/05 13:41:25 I wouldn't recommend a 500/501 bilge keel if it was likely to bounce up and down on the mooring as it grounded and lifted off. As Brian says the rudder is almost the same depth as the keels and is unprotected so could get damaged. we had a bilge keel 501 and sailed over 5000 miles in her without ever having a problem with the rudder, but she was kept on a deep water mooring as a base and only went aground when we planned it, either heading up a shouling beach of hard sand for maintenance work or in soft mud up a quiet river for the night. Unlike, say, Westerlies or Moodies the hull used is the same for both fin and bilge. this means that the stub of the fin is still there (handy for instrument mounting) but also that the mounting relies on a bit of extra lay up and a shoulder on the keel rather than a socket in the hull. It doesn't appear to cause a problem. As for performance, well I don't have much to compare it with but she always surprised people with her turn of speed and we had her out in some appalling weather too. The twin keels represent more ballast than the fin, which helps to compensate for not having the weight down so low and gives back at least some improvement in the centre of gravity. As Brian says there is an issue of righting moment quite apart from the CoG, if you think about it she would be just as happy upside down, which wouldn't be the case with a fin, but I rather doubt that trick could be achieved except in extremely calm conditions. anyway, I always felt very safe in her. I think it all comes down to where you want to keep her, how she is to be stored in winter, and where you want to sail. remember once you get a bilge keel stuck on the putty it is far harder to get her off than a fin as you cannot reduce the draft by heeling. we chose twin keel for ease of maintenence and storage, with no need for a cradle in winter she could stand on her own feet. the other problem would be finding one to buy, they are nowhere near as common as the fins. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]